Monthly Archives: September 2015

That is the sentiment echoing around the “Sunday morning coming down” noggins of the faithful in Knoxville, Lubbock, Fayetteville, Austin, Eugene, and Tempe.

On paper it looked like a mundane college football Saturday, but by late Saturday night it was a “Nightmare on Elm Street,” for those aforementioned losers.

“Gomer Pyle” would have summarized the day this way: “Shazam, Shazam, Shazam!”

In Gainesville, the Gators were all but down and out trailing 27-14 with a shade more than five minutes left.

And that is when analyst Gary Danielson (not our fav) said, “Remember there are still a lot of demons that Tennessee must slay before this is over.”

Well the demons won out as UT Coach Butch Jones was stricken with brain cramps as the Gators stormed from behind to stun the Vols 28-27 continuing its mastery over UT which has now stretched to 11 consecutive years.

It was the second time this season that Tennessee saw a 13-point lead evaporate late in the fourth quarter, but this one will be tough to get over.

The winning touchdown came on a fourth and fourteen play, which ended up being a 63-yard TD reception to Antonio Callaway with 1:26 left on the clock.

On the previous three plays the Vols blitzed or pressured the Gators QB Will Grier, but inexplicably on fourth and forever sat back putting a spy on the QB, who had all day to find an open receiver, and “Boom” the rest is history.

Jones is also getting crushed for not going for the 2-point conversion late in the game to make it a two-TD (14 point) lead.

As well as for his ridiculously conservative play calling while nursing a skinny 6-point lead.

OUCH!!! This one will sting for a long time.

Note: Tennessee lined up for a 55-yard game winning field goal, which had the distance, but just sailed wide right.

In the home of Buddy Holly, Lubbock, Texas it was, as expected, a classic Texas shootout as TCU kept its playoff chances on life support with a thrilling 55-52 come-from-behind victory against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech.

The winning touchdown came on a fourth and goal tipped pass that was snatched by Aaron Green in the back of the end zone with; 23 seconds left for the crushing, or glorious, defeat or victory depending on whose colors one was wearing.

Texas A@M at Jerry’s House (Home of the Dallas Cowboys) needed a late two-point conversion to force overtime then scored the winner in overtime to stun the “Gasbaggers” otherwise known as the Razorbacks of Arkansas: 28-21.

Coach Bret Bielema’s Hogs, who fought hard have not brought home the bacon and are now an undersized: 1-3 to start, what was supposed to be a promising season in Home of Frank Broyles.

In Austin it hasn’t been this bad since before the arrival of Darrel Royal. DOUBLE YIKES!!

The last time the Horns sat 1-3 to begin a season, Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House 1956, and Texas is now 7-10 under Coach Charlie Strong, and a woeful 5-22 in its last 27 against ranked opponents. TRIPLE YIKES!!!

There is blame aplenty for the Sons of Earl Campbell as Texas compiled an unfathomable 16 penalties including a late game 15-yard personal foul on Strong which led to the Ok State tying field goal.

That can’t and should not happen!!

The winning field goal came when Texas punter Michael Dickson, a rugby style kicker fumbled the snap and scuffed a 10-yard punt giving the Cowboys a stunning game-ending regulation win; a 40-yard field goal with 6 seconds left. Down goes the Horns!! WOW!!

How bad are things in Austin?

Oklahoma State is the first team in history to win four consecutive times in Austin!! OUCH!!

Where’s Mack Brown when you need him??!!

Maybe the Utes of Utah are the best team in the country!!

Its opening season win over Michigan is looking better and better, but its 62-20 crush job Saturday night in Eugene, courtesy of QB Travis Wilson against the “wingless” Ducks of Eugene grabbed everyone’s attention.

It was Oregon’s worst home loss since Jimmy Carter was strolling the halls of the White House – 1977- a 54-0 whitewashing by Washington.

And the most points ever surendered by the Green from Eugene at home. YIKES!!!

Where’s Chip Kelly when you need him??!!

In Tempe Coach Rich Rod’s Cats showed what happens after gorging on too many cupcakes to open the season.

In what was billed as a Pac-12 showdown, quickly evolved into a declawing as the Bruins of UCLA, who are looking more and more like a playoff contender, went out and toyed: 56-30 with the Wildcats like they were a bunch of catnip. OUCH!!

It was a desert storm performance by the visitors as its freshman QB Josh Rosen played like an All-American.

On the local front the teammates: Tim Murphy of Harvard, and Buddy Teevens of Dartmouth continued their winning ways as the Crimson crushed the Brown Bears 53-27, impressively running its FCS winning streak to 16 games, the longest in the nation.

It its 115th meeting between the Ivy neighbors it was the most points compiled by the Sons of Joe Restic since its initial meeting in 1893. WOW!!!

Tim Murphy is one hell of a football coach. And should have been at BC when O’Brien left, but that is a story for another day.

The Commonwealth’s other Division 1 eleven ventured into South Bend and played a tremendous first half before falling to possibly one of the nation’s best in Notre Dame; 62-27.

Mark Whipple (0-3) should also be coaching at BC, but again that is a story for another time.

Our pal Al Bagnoli now ensconced with the job of turning around the fate of Columbia football, aka the “Charlie Browns of Morningside Heights” lost to Georgetown 24-21 running Columbia streak of ineptitude to 23 straight.

It was a game that many thought would end the streak, but with the Pope just in town, it was all Jesuits all the time.

Nice story in Bloomington as the Hoosiers of Indiana 4-0 have its longest winning streak in 25-years good for them. The Sons of John Pont need just a pair of wins to become bowl eligible.

While Big Brother in West Lafayette, Purdue lost yet again (1-3) as the coaching seat of Darrell Hazell (5-23) in his 2 plus years at the helm is hotter than the rhetoric spewing from Bernie Sanders.

We close with the spirit of Charlie Weis as Kansas (0-3) the last team he ruined, and now one of the nation’s worst fell to Rutgers: 27-14. Sorry Charlie!!!

That’s it from cyber-space. We’ll be up and running with our analysis of week 5 Wednesday night. Until then, Peace, and listen to the music. Pk

We begin this week by crossing sporting lines and giving our tribute to an American treasure, and one of the great all-time characters; the beloved Yogi Berra

The Hall of Fame catcher was an All-Star for 15 consecutive seasons, won 10 World Championships with the Yankees, and was a three-time American League MVP.

I remember meeting Yogi as a ten-year old kid.

It was on a Patriots Day and the Sox-Yanks game scheduled for that morning was canceled because of snow. So my pals and I ventured over to the old “Statler Hilton,” now the “Park Plaza,” which was the place where the Yankees always stayed.

There sitting in the middle of the lobby reading the paper was none other than Yogi, and as we surrounded him for an autograph, which he graciously signed, I asked him what he thought of our new left fielder, Tony Conigliaro.

Without missing a beat Yogi responded, “I haven’t seen him enough to give you a comment,” said the Hall of Famer simply.

We all have our favorite Yogisms and here are mine:

Yogi roomed with Doctor Bobby Brown, a cardiologist, who attended Tulane Med-School in the offseason.

One night Yogi went out to get a pizza, and the guy at the counter asked Yogi how many slices he wanted, 4 or 8. Without hesitation Berra said, “You better make it 4, I’m not that hungry.”

The other involved Mickey Mantle and a charity golf tournament that Mick was sponsoring.

Mantle, who was supposed to be playing with Yogi was steaming, because Berra was late.

Finally about a half-hour after their scheduled tee-time in strolls Yogi. The aggravated Mantle says, “Yogi, where you been? You were supposed to be here a half-hour ago!”

Berra replies: “I was at a funeral. Remember Mick, if you don’t go to theirs, they won’t go to yours.” Brilliant.

This weekend let’s see which teams show some real character on the field, then celebrate with slices of pizza, and which use utilize a game plan of such confounding logic, it leaves the opposition’s alums looking like they’re at a funeral.

Unlike the UCLAn elevens of recent vintage, these Sons of Tommy Prothro are forged with confidence, and play a stout physical attacking style. [Although the loss (knee) of backer Myles Jack is devastating on the field, and in the locker room.]

The shift in style is a reflection of the personality of Coach Jim Mora.

The soul of the run orientated Rose Bowlers is tailback Paul Perkins, who, while deserving of Heisman conversation, plays with the anonymity of democratic presidential candidate Lawrence Lessig.

[Who? – Harvard law professor.]

The director of these Pac-12 title challengers is t-freshman QB josh Rosen (5 TDs-4 INTs) who fortunately is comforted by chain-movers; Jordan Payton, and Thomas Duarte. But this game will be a test of PhD proportions for the kid.

The D of the Sons of James Dean is anchored by a pair of backers; Isaako Savaiinaea, Kenny Young who smack harder than Bernie Sanders verbally assaulting the corporate world of banking.

In the desert, Coach Rich Rod’s turbo-charged Wildcats score quicker than a young Mick Jagger, but after an overindulgence of three consecutive cupcakes its mettle will be tested Saturday night.

The D led end Reggie Gilbert, safety Will Parks and backer Jake Matthew [note: All-America backer Sooby Wright may play – torn meniscus] has struggled mightily stopping the run.

This is another dangerous test for Mora’s Marauders, and in a very close game, we think the other team from LA finds an oasis in the desert.

No.18 Utah at No.13 Oregon (FOX, 8:30 p.m.) The marrow behind the Sons of Lee Grosscup (The “Cupper” Utah ’58 was a shovel pass artesian – and longtime TV analyst) is tailback Devontae Booker, a fiery sparkplug who runs more violently than a 3 a.m. Friday night party in “the community.”

But the rest of the Utes offensive attack has been as barren as a reservoir in California.

QB Travis Wilson (shoulder sprain – expected to play) is the director of Utah’s bottom feeding passing game which has been as inept at the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

When it does connect, wideouts Britain Covey, Kenneth Scott, and tight end Siale Fakailoatonga are the principle targets.

The seasoned D anchored by end Hunter Dimick, and backers Jared Norris and Gionni Paul has been anointed as: “Sack Lake City” but this season has been as ineffective as Hillary’s new “warm and fuzzy” persona.

Amazingly, the Sons of Dan Fouts seem to be flying under the radar.

And the most scrutinized digit in Eugene, this side of Lady Gaga flashing the “bird” to a group of photographers at a Mets game in 2010, or the Giants John Pierre-Paul blowing his off on the 4th of July, is the broken index finger on the throwing hand of QB Vernon Adams. (Jeff Lockie – backup).

The tone setting steam engine for the Sons of Phil Knight U is tailback Royce Freeman, and while Adams’ family of receivers isn’t “creepy and kooky…” it is dangerous, led by Bralon Addison, and Dwayne Stanford.

The D of the Sons of Bill Gore [inventor of Gore-tex] featuring backers Joe Walker, Rodney Hardrick, and end DeForest Buckner is stouter than previous years, but still has some significant fissures.

Ultimately, we think the cleated disciples of “Mr. Nike” aka Phil Knight, Duck over the visitors from Salt Lake City.

No.3 TCU at Texas Tech (FOX, 4:45 p.m.) The Horned Frogs are riding the nation’s second longest (11) winning streak with only the Buckeyes string of 16 standing in its way.

The Frogs D anchored by tackle Aaron Curry (another Nebraska transfer), and safety Denzel Johnson has suffered more injuries than the customers sitting in the window of a Dunkin Donuts after another octogenarian “mistakenly” stepped on the gas.

It is hard envision the Sons of Sammy Baugh will survive the season unscathed with such a depleted injury-riddled defense.

Like its native son Buddy Holly, the swagger has returned to the Red Raiders of Lubbock.

The high-riding Sons of E.J. Holub are directed by its dual-threat QB Pat Mahomes (9 TDS-3 INTs) with assists from receivers Jakeem Grant, and Ian Sadler, while DeAndre Washington, and Justin Stockton are quality road-graders.

The key to the turnaround for the Sons of John Denver has been ball protection which last year dropped to one rung from the cellar.

We think TT stops the streak severely damaging TCU’s chances for a playoff, while the Lubbock faithful serenade its conquering heroes with one of Buddy Holly’s greatest: “That’ll be the day ….”

No.14 Texas A&M vs Arkansas (ESPN, 6 p.m.)Jerry’s World Arlington, Texas As we have mentioned, Coach Kevin Sumlin’s best off-season move was enticing defensive coordinator John Chavis to leave the confines of Baton Rouge (LSU) and $ign on with the Aggies at College Station.

Thanks to his wizardry, the A@M D, which once had gaps larger than a gushing BP oil pipe, or Deval Patrick’s budget, is now tighter than a manhole cover on the Central Park motorcade route for Pope Francis.

The Sons of Lyle Lovett sing along in a high energy spread attack that is orchestrated by QB Kyle Allen (9 TDs-2 INTs), with large assists from tailback Tra Carson, and the “good-hands” threesome; Christian Kirk, Ricky Seals-Jones, and Josh Reynolds.

The reconditioned D is anchored by All-America end Myles Garrett, his partner Daeshon Hall, and safety Armani Watts, who isn’t afraid to add grass stains to his uniform.

It’s early, but the Sons of Jerry Jones have been butchered like hogs.

The Razorbacks are one of the early season disappointments (1-2), and since his arrival in Fayetteville Coach Bret Bielema, aka “Mr. Gasbag,” hasn’t conjured up Frank Broyles memories with his 11-17 “rebuilding” record.

The “old school” Hogs run like John Riggins feeding its thoroughbred tailback; Alex Collins.

QB Brandon Allen, the Razorbacks senior signal caller lost his favorite target last week leaving JoJo Robinson, and Drew Morgan as the next men up.

The D anchored by backer Brooks Ellis, and tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter, struggles getting off the field surrendering a hideous better than fifty-percent of opponent’s third-down conversions. And that my friends, is a suicidal formula against the Aggies.

This is a tortoise versus hare type of game, we’ll take the Hare, as the Gasbag’s Hogs, and Jerry’s alma-mater, are bacon once again.

Tennessee at Florida (Ch.4, 3:30 p.m.) As the Checkerboard faithful are painfully aware, its Sons of Johnny Majors have rolled snake-eyes 10 consecutive times versus the Gators.

For Coach Butch Jones, and the cache of the UT season, this game carries the same sense of importance as the hairstylist for Donald Trump.

QB Joshua Dobbs is the Rocky Top game changer assisted by road scorchers Jalen Hurd, and Alvin Kamara, who burn with the fury of a Cape Canaveral launch.

When the Knoxville leader locks on, he has a trio of chain movers; Josh Malone, Preston Williams, and tight end Ethan Wolf.

The Vols D, anchored by backer Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and end Derek Barnett, attacks from all angles, but its secondary is as vulnerable as a boat overflowing with Syrian refugees attempting to cross the Aegean Sea.

These are not your father’s Gators.

These Sons of Tim Tebow are seemingly younger than Michael Jackson when he burst on the scene with the “Jackson Five.”

With 17 true-freshmen on its roster, newly minted Coach Jim McElwain said that it is the youngest eleven of which he’s ever been associated.

As the Gator Nation is tortuously aware, since “Mr. Heisman” departed Gainesville, the Swamp’s QB’s have performed as inconsistently as the Iraqi “Army.”

As it currently stands, Will Grier holds a slight edge over Treaon Harris (suspended), but the coach is quick to point out that the decision remains as solid as the core of a volcano. Although the suspension may have altered that permanently.

The shifty Kelvin Taylor is the Gators principle “Swamp fox,” while wideouts Demarcus Robinson, and Brandon Powell are solid targets.

The D anchored by backers Jarrad Davis, Antonio Morrison, and end Jonathan Bullard stones runners, and has been the bedrock to the Gators solid start to the season.

In a game that is very difficult to get a handle, we think that Tennessee becomes another streak whisperer, and finds a way to a hard earned season changing victory.

Last week: 2-3 Season record: 8-7

That’s it from cyber-space. We’ll be up and running with our recap by Noon on Sunday. Until then, Peace, and listen to the music. PK

When the Mississippi lead zoomed to 19 (43-24) with ten-minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Alabama “faithful” swarmed toward the exits in classic front runner style.

It looked like a refugee march to Hungary!!

WOW!! I bet that sat well with Nick Saban.

In was the antitheses of the song by Blonde; “The Tide is high but I’m holding on, I want to be your number one, number one…” Not this year!!

The Sons of Bear Bryant, who fought back before ultimately losing 43-37, have now allowed over 40 points in 3 of its last 6 games. Shocking!!

But it was a special night for the Sons of Archie Manning.

“Ole Miss had been 0-16 all-time against number 2-ranked AP teams. Not anymore!

It had never beaten Alabama twice in a row. Not anymore!

Alabama had won 17-consecutive home games. OVER!!

And it was Bama’s first home loss to the Boys from Oxford since the last months of the Reagan Administration – 1988. OUCH!!

And its hopes for another SEC Championship, and a playoff invite, while still alive, are as damaged as Felix Arroyo’s chances of getting reelected to the Boston City Council.

After USC’s bitter 41-31 loss to unranked Stanford, (a 10-point underdog), the coaching seat of USC Coach Steve Sarkisian, particularly after his drunken appearance in front of alums and boosters at the annual Salute to Troy season kickoff, is warmer than the anticipated reception for Joe Biden when he decides to take on Hillary.

The Men of Troy are now 11-5 (3-losses to unranked teams) during his short tenure, and there is an undercurrent of restlessness amongst its faithful, especially since the Trojans D looked softer than the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

Where is Ed Orgeron (Coach O sparked USC after Lane Kiffin was fired 2-years ago. then was bypassed in favor of Sarkisian) when you need him??!!

On the local front, Harvard’s Tim Murphy’s continues to showcase his tremendous skills as a coach, and recruiter, as the Crimson have now won 15 in a row with its season opening 41-10 rout of the Rams of Rhode Island.

A little way up North, Coach Buddy Teevens, (Murphy’s best friend) and the Big Green of Dartmouth knocked off the Hoyas of Georgetown 31-10, in their first meeting since the Administration of Woodrow Wilson-1916.

If there are no snags on the road, the winner of the October 30, Friday night game at the Stadium between the two former Silver Lake Regional High teammates, might be for the Ivy League Championship.

Down the street in Avon, the Skyhawks of Stonehill crushed the Setters of Pace (Is there a worse nickname?) 51-13 remaining a perfect 3-0, and 2-0 in the NE-10. Good for them.

For Mark Whipple’s Belle’s of Amherst, it was, as Yogi once said; “Deja-vu all over again” as the 0-2 Minutemen amazingly once again found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!!

With 1:20 left in the fourth quarter, UMass has just taken a 23-20 lead against a very good Temple Owl team, courtesy of a 16 yard touchdown pass by QB Blake Frohnapfel.

But the snake bitten (maybe it’s paying for the sins of John Calipari) school from Emily Dickenson’s home town lined up for the innocuous extra-point, which would have giving them a 4 point lead and probable victory.

But as Lee Corso might say; “Not so fast my friend!”

Temple not only blocked the attempt, but scooped it up returning it all the way for a 2-point conversion narrowing the UMass lead to a spaghetti thin single digit: 23-22.

Needless to say, the Sons of Joe Klecko, who should be ranked for the first time since the Carter Administration – 1979, drove down the field and kicked the game winning 32 yard field goal.

“It’s just football,” said a wizened Mark Whipple. Hopefully, he can hold the locker room together.

On Friday night at Chestnut Hill, the Eagles, especially the defense of coordinator Don Brown, gave the Seminoles of Florida State all it could handle before falling; 14-0.

BC also lost starting QB Darius Wade to a broken ankle and the hope here is that Troy Flutie gets the opportunity to showcase his skills as the starter.

The Boys from Storrs, Connecticut put up a quite a fight in a 9-6 loss to the Tigers of Missouri.

The Huskies a 21-point underdog lined up for the game-tying field 42-yard goal, but instead went for the win on the fake only to have it intercepted.

But Coach Bob Diaco sent a great message to his kids, that this is a program that intends to win.

Back on the national scene;

The Tigers of LSU, led by its Heisman candidate tailback Leonard Fournette; 228 yards- 3 TDs – 19 carries look like the Beast of the SEC West, rushing for an jaw-dropping 411 yards, in its 45-21 crush-job against Auburn.

But there remains concern amongst the faithful of Baton Rouge regarding the passing attack.

Another potential playoff team continues to sail under a full mast, as the Aggies of A@M rolled over Nevada 44-27.

It was the 19th consecutive nonconference victory, the longest such streak in the nation for the Sons of John David Crow.

Things are so bleak in West Lafayette, Indiana that the Boilermakers of Purdue made the offensively challenged Hokies of Virginia Tech look like the Joe Montana ‘49ers; as VaTech crushed the Sons of Bob Griese 44-17. YIKES!!!!

In what might be the year of the tailback; Georgia’s sophomore sensation, Nick Chubb (159 yards – 2 TDs) “ran” his streak of consecutive 100-yard plus games to eleven, (one behind all-time Bulldogs’ all-time leader Hershel Walker), as the crew from Athens smoked the hapless Gamecocks of South Carolina: 52-20. YIKES!!

This could be the beginning of the end for the “Head Ball Coach.”

How bad are things in Texas? Shades of UMass bad!!!

Well, in a stirring comeback, led by its new-found QB Jerrod Heard, and just couple of days after the stagnant air engulfing the athletic program was cleared by the resignation of its arrogant, and aloof athletic director Steve Patterson, the Horns lined up for the late fourth quarter game tying extra point.

But instead of potentially turning its season around, the extra-point attempt by Nick Rose, was, instead of the Yellow Rose of Texas good, fully blackened, as the kick sailed wide, and the Horns devastatingly left Royal Field felled by the a single point 45-44. Amazing!!

The “real’ team from L.A., the Bruins of UCLA, in a stirring come-from-behind victory knocked off a resilient bunch of BYU Cougars: 24-23 led by another of the country’s scintillating backs; Paul Perkins who rushed for 219 yards on 26 carries.

The Sons of Mark Harmon are positioned to make a legitimate run at the Pac-12 title, and may play its way into a playoff invite. Bruins Coach Jim Mora called it his most significant victory.

Finally, we return to the gasbag stage of Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, who now finds his Razorbacks in desperate need of a victory after losing to Texas Tech 35-24. “GB” is now facing the distinct prospect of being 1-3 after next week’s game against A&M. WOW!!!

That’s it from cyber-space. We’ll be up and running Wednesday night with our analysis of week four. Until then, Peace, and listen to the music. PK

We begin this week with a barrel of hops, barley, yeast, and water for the brewing of a beer whose brand is steeped in controversy.

Several months ago Mark Dudash, the owner of the Duquesne Brewery, which operates out of Latrobe, Pennsylvania hit on an idea; he wanted to brew, and sell; Joe Paterno Beer.

As one might imagine, the initial response was one of “skunky” caution, after all, the stench of scandal still hangs over the Happy Valley campus, and making a beer with that moniker might be difficult to swallow.

But Dudash persisted with his mission.

He made a call to George Bradley, the general manager of a local distributor, to gage his interest.

“I must say, initially, there was some resistance. People didn’t want to be stuck with a product then have a fire-sale to get rid of it,” Bradley stated.

But to paraphrase Claude Rains who said to Bogart in Casablanca, “I am shocked, shocked, to find that gambling is going on in this Café.” Who could possibly imagine a beer named after Joe Paterno would be a big seller in Pennsylvania!!

Sales have already topped a million cans, and a second batch is being brewed. “I’ve been in this business for 17 years and I’ve never seen a response to a beer product like this. My retailers want more, and they want it now,” Bradley exclaimed.

What a country!! Just think what the sales volume would be without the scandal.

This weekend let’s see which teams toast its victors with a sudsy late night celebration, and which leaves its alums crying in its beer after another desultory loss by “State U.”

No.15 Mississippi at No. 2 Alabama (ESPN, 9:15 p.m.) The Sons of Archie Manning [note: the speed limit on the stately Oxford Campus is 18 mph in honor of Archie’s number] are hoping to write a better story than its renown Pulitzer Prize winning alum, and Oxford resident; William Faulkner.

The Rebels bombardier has the luxury of targeting a pair of field-stretching wideouts; All-America Laquon Treadwell, and his partner Cody Core, mixed with a seasoned dash of All-America tight end Evan Engram.

The ground attack featuring the tailback tandem of Jaylen Walton, and Eugene Brazley has vastly improved thanks to a seasoned offensive line.

The backbone of the Rebs is a D, which is tougher to penetrate than the Hungarian border and anchored by All-America tackle Robert Nkemdiche, end Marquis Haynes, and nose Isaac Gross.

The Titans from Tuscaloosa, aka: Groucho’s favorite team, are more businesslike than the grey and blue suited Vulcans of the gilded boardroom of Goldman Sachs.

But for many, (not Kenny Hanson) to paraphrase comedian Joe E. Lewis who originally used “Yankees”: “Rooting for Alabama, is like rooting for U.S. Steel.”

The reins of the Bama wagon has been handed to senior QB Jake Coker, who is brilliantly assisted by All-American tailback Derek Henry, and his turbo-charged partner Kenyan Drake, both averaging over a jaw-dropping 7-yards a carry.

When the FSU transfer takes to the Tuscaloosan skies, he lasers on a pair of quality targets; wideout Robert Foster, and a skyscraper in (6-6, 242) tight end O.J. Howard.

But if the Sons of Bart Starr are to earn a second consecutive playoff invite, it will by its kryptonite D, which builds a stronger barrier than the wall between the Palestinians and Israelis and is anchored by a pair of All-Americas; backer Reggie Ragland, and nose A’Shawn Robinson.

The D of the Sons of Bobby Dodd which is led by backer P.J. Davis, nose Adam Gotsis, and corner D.J. White doesn’t have the sieve-lie quality of years past, particularly in its seasoned secondary.

In South Bend, the diminished playoff hopes of the Irish now rest on the inexperienced arm of r-shirt freshman QB DeShone Kizer.

But faithful of the Sons of Terry Hanratty are hoping that the kid controls the game like a German Kaiser, or at least channels some of the ’66 magic of; Hanratty to Seymour.

(Note: In 1966 both players were on the cover of Time Magazine – which back in those pay-phone days was a very big deal.)

Luckily the “next-man-up” is cocooned by one of the nation’s top offensive lines led by its All-America left tackle Ronnie Stanley.

The kid will also lean heavily on tailback C.J. Prosie, and his touchdown creating wideout Will Fuller.

If the Domers are to be victorious, its blitzing D, led by All-America backer Jaylon Smith, and his partners Joe Schmidt, and Isaac Rochell must force some three-and-outs in hopes of derailing the Jackets train.

In a game with huge national implications, we think it’s the Engineers from Atlanta, in a very close game who design the winning game plan.

No.23 Northwestern at Duke (not on national television: 12:30 p.m.) This is the second edition of the “Smart Kids” Bowl. The first was the Wildcats season opening victory at home against Stanford.

The Purple Cats are also one of the early season surprises as the small school from the Midwest has not allowed a touchdown in consecutive games for the first time since the Eisenhower Administration – 1958.

Coach Pat Fitzgerald’s squad is directed by dual-threat QB Clayton Thorson, who slices a defense better than a Veg-O-Matic, while sophomore tailback Justin Jackson is the Cats’ meow.

When NU does go aerial, wideouts Christina Jones, and Austin Carr, are a pair of glue-fingered targets.

The defensive strength of the Sons of Ara Parseghian is a secondary featuring Traveon Henry and Goodwin Igwebuike, with an added dash of backer Anthony Walker, and pass rush specialist Ifeadi Odenigbo.

Before Coach David Cutcliffe (one of the nation’s most underrated) arrived in Durham, Duke Football was viewed as just some casual oddity that took place to pass the time before the start of basketball season.

Not anymore.

In fact, the Duke Administration has undertaken a capital improvement program to Wallace Wade Stadium, something that not even Nostradamus could have seen coming.

The Blue Devils are commanded by dual-threat QB Thomas Sirk, who choses from a Phillips Candy House sampler of receivers; Johnell Barnes, T.J. Rahming, and Max McCaffrey.

The Dukies ground attack led by tailbacks Shaun Wilson, and Shaquille Powell isn’t dynamic but are positive yardage churners.

The secondary, led by safety Jeremy Cash, and corner Breaon Borders are quality stoppers in Cutcliffe’s 4-2-5 alignment.

In a game in which the players on both sidelines have scored a bazillion SAT points, we think it’s the Boys from the Midwest who, in a close match “out-Jeopardy” the men from Durham.

If the “Farm” signal-caller has his GPS in proper working order, wideout Devon Cajuste, and tight end Austin Hooper are chain moving targets.

It’s early, but Stanford’s signature ground attack, which is averaging an agita-inducing 3-yards a pop, has been as uninspiring Boston City Council.

The three-amigos from whom much is expected are: Christian McCaffrey, Barry Sanders Jr., and Redmound Wright.

The revamped D, anchored by backers Blake Martinez, Kevin Anderson, and Peter Kalambayi, tackle better than the security team around Donald Trump.

USC has gorged on a pair of cupcakes, now we’ll see if it can properly digest a main entrée.

As a note: the Cardinal is the Men of Troy’s oldest rival (1905 – Teddy Roosevelt), and additionally, this is the first time since the last days of W (2008), that the Boys from the Farm come into this game unranked.

The surfers from L.A. are under the command of its dart-throwing Heisman hopeful Cody Kessler (7TDs-) 0-INTs-78%) who throws a better bomb than Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate criticizing the Iranian Nuclear Agreement.

This Starry Son of John McKay has the luxury of targeting a future Sunday performer; receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, but Justin Davis, Ronald Jones, and Tre Madden won’t remind anyone of the glory days of “Tailback U.”

The D led by its All-America backer Su’a Cravens with assists from his linebacker partners; Cameron Smith, and Osa Masina hits harder than a Roy Rice elevator punch.

We think The Boys from the Farm return to Palo Alto with the USC fight song Fight On! stuck in its head.

No.19 BYU at No.10 UCLA (FS1, 10:30 p.m.) This has been a “September to remember” for Cougars QB Tanner Mangum.

Three months ago, the 22 year old was finishing his 2-year mission in Chile, and now, after orchestrating a pair of last second heart-stopping comebacks, he has become the Cinderella of the Provo campus.

The “Mission Impossible” leader is assisted by his primary tailback Adam Hine, while receivers Mitch Juergens, and Nick Kurtz, average an eye-popping 25 yards per grab.

The D led by nose Logan Taele, backer Harvey Langi, and safety Michael Wadsworth has played well, but it will be severely tested on Saturday night by the Trojan’s dynamic passing assault.

There hasn’t been this much interest surrounding a Bruins QB, since Mark Harmon, of NCIS fame, was leading the UCLANs to the Rose Bowl.

Its new poster boy is t-freshman QB Josh Rosen, who has the faithful not only dreaming of a Rose Bowl, but dare-I-say, an invite to the New Year’s Eve playoff.

The protégé relies on a trio of tailbacks; Paul Perkins, Bolu Olorunfunmi, and Soso Jamabo, who have the ability to tiller the earth better than Monsanto.

It seemed as if the gods of college football were channeling Elvis; as renditions of “Heartbreak Hotel” broke out all over the country.

We’ll begin in Little Rock with the biggest shocker of the day as the “Rockets” of Toledo, a 21-point underdog, knocked off the “mighty” Razorbacks of Arkansas: 16-12. YIKES!! And Holy Toledo!!!

Toledo’s D stifled the “vaunted” Bielema ground attack limiting it to a measly 103 yards, and 3.3 yards a pop.

It also twice stopped late potential game winning drives with the game’s final attempt coming from the Rockets 12-yard line as time expired. WOW!!

The humongous upset was orchestrated by former Alabama backup QB Phillip Ely who played like Captain Bly.

But for us, the best part; it humbled (at least temporarily), and quieted the overly pompous gasbag Razorback coach Bret Bielema. Which is no easy task. Good for Toledo!!!

Next we’ll travel to Charlottesville and the school founded by Thomas Jefferson the University of Virginia who lost a last second “heartbreaker” to Notre Dame 34-27.

The Irish squandered its 26-14 lead when the Cavs scored with 1:54 left to take a 27-26 lead.

“The Domers” who lost starting QB Malik Zaire for the season to a broken ankle earlier in the game needed his backup, and now starter, DeShone Kizer to find a way.

And find a way he did, hitting ND’s starry wideout Will Fuller with a 39 yard over-the shoulder touchdown winning 34-27 catch with 12 ticks left on the clock. AMAZING!!!

The biggest heartbreaker involves UVA Coach Mike London whose seat, now hotter than the gasses on Mercury, would have at least cooled to blazing status.

“Now DeShone has to run our football team, and we feel good about it,” said Irish Coach Brian Kelly. We’ll see!!

[As a side note Justin Yoon a product of Milton Academy and considered the country’s number one rated kicker last year, missed three field goals.]

Next we turn to the Plains of Auburn where the Tigers needed overtime to finally defeat its 1AA opponent Jacksonville State 27-20!! Are you kidding me???

In fact, War Eagle needed a leaping touchdown catch by Melvin Ray with less than a minute left just to get a chance to play in the overtime. Really!!!!

Tiger starting QB Jeremy Jonson, who some were touting as the next Cam Newton, has played more like Howard Johnson, except with only a single flavor.

The QB needs to purchase the game “Clue,” because he’s truly been clueless on the field.

From there, we’ll venture to Knoxville and a visit to Boys from Rocky Top.

During the first half, its 100,000-plus Checkerboard zealots, the largest crowd Oklahoma has ever played before, generated noise levels of over 100 decibels as the Volunteers soared to 17-0 lead.

Unfortunately that cacophony was silenced as OU staged a comeback for the ages, as the Sons of Johnny Majors fell; 31-24 in overtime.

It was a crushing defeat for the rebuilding Vols who have now lost 28 of its last 29 to ranked teams, and are a woeful 2-34 against Top-25 teams since 2008. Double Yikes!!!

And for “Big-Game” Bob, he called it; “One of my most special wins, maybe my favorite of all time.”

“A little Sooner Magic came back out…” said Stoops, who has now beaten an SEC opponent for the third consecutive season. Good for them!!!

From there we’ll move to the Queen City, where the Owls of Temple now find themselves 2-0 after going on the road, and stifling the highly touted Bearcats of Cincinnati: 34-26.

It was Temple’s first victory at Nippert Stadium since the Reagan Administration: 1985. WOW!!

Temple now finds itself 2-0 for the first time since the last days of W’s Administration 2008, and its success can be traced to its opportunistic D which had 5 takeaways including 4 interceptions the last coming in the end zone to ice the victory. The Owls are a hoot!!!

We’ll zip over to Columbia, South Carolina where the other Stoops, his brother Mark, celebrated a semi-historic victory by his Wildcats of Kentucky, ending a 22 game road losing streak that had stretched over 5-years by defeating the Gamecocks of South Carolina 26-22.

The Cats find themselves 2-0. Good for them!!!

It’s on to East Lansing, where the Spartans of Michigan State also celebrated its most significant victory since its famous 1966 10-10 tie against Notre Dame defeating a fast closing Oregon Ducks team: 31-28.

The MSU D stopped the Ducks four-times on fourth down!!

In fact, one has to back to the Administration of LBJ the last time a pair of top ten teams met in Spartan Stadium, and it sets Mark Dantonio’s Boys up for a legitimate chance for a playoff invite.

In Starkville, home of the Bulldogs of Mississippi State, LSU hung on to claim a agita inducing 21-19 victory, as MSU missed a 52-yard game winning field goal as time expired.

The key to the play was a 5-yard delay of game penalty making it a longer field goal try. Amazing!!!!

How bad are things on the Piscataway Campus, otherwise known as the Home of Rutgers Football?

Well Washington State travels across the country after losing last week to a 1AA team, and marches 90-yards down the field scoring the winning TD with: 13 left for an improbable: 37-34 victory. YIKES!!

With all the “stuff” swirling around the program, nobody’s seat is as warm as Knight’s Coach Kyle Flood and that included UVA’s Mike London.

Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the foolishness that took place yesterday at Chestnut Hill: a 76-0 exhibition walk-through by the Eagles against that juggernaut: 1AA Howard University Bison.

In this “everyone gets a trophy society” both teams agreed to shorten the periods to ten minutes for the second half. What a joke!! Is this Pop Warner??

And BC wonders why it has difficulty generating any interest. Try playing Harvard, or how about UMass- now there’s a concept!! As we have said many a time in these pages: ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Outside of that debacle, it was another tremendous “Heartbreak Hotel” week of college football.

That’s it from cyber-space. We’ll be up and running with our analysis of week 3 Wednesday night. Until then, Peace, and listen to the music. Pk

We begin this week with an inferiority complex, poker chips, and a shoulder to “wear” them.

For much of the last 40 years Michigan State has played a distant second fiddle to its intra-state Big Blue brother; Mighty Meeechigan.

And since taking over the program, Mark Dantonio, Sparty’s best head man since Duffy Daugherty, has played into that sense of inferiority better than a shark at a table at The World Series of Poker.

In the weight room the shirts of the Michigan State players have poker chips on the shoulders. And before one game last season, poker chips were handed out.

But when asked if his team embraced the role of underdog, Dantonio’s face grimaced as he snarled, “Underdog?” “We’re not an underdog.”

This week let’s see which teams, with apologies to Kenny Rogers, “Know When to Fold ‘Em,” and which cash in its winning chips, allowing its fat-cat alums to pompously parade around after another chest-puffing victory.

No.7 Oregon at No.5 Michigan State (Ch.5, 8 p.m.) Saturday night in East Lansing, it should be Kermit the Frog bobble head night, as the Green from Eugene pays a visit to the green-stamp clad Spartans of Michigan State.

As always, Oregon moves faster than its legendary alum Steve Prefontaine, and is directed by its latest dual-threat gunslinger Vernon Adams, the best known Adams since; Gomez and Morticia.

The flashy director of the Sons of Dan Fouts is assisted by a pair of starry backs Royce Freeman, who rolls like a Rolls, and his partner Kani Benoit, and chooses from a gaggle of receivers led by Byron Marshall, and Dwayne Stanford.

The D is anchored by end Deforest Buckner, nose Alex Balducci, and backer Joe Walker but concerns linger over an injury riddled secondary which is not a good recipe against MSU.

A potential playoff invite hangs on the outcome, making this the Spartans biggest battle since Thermoplae, or certainly since its 1966 legendary 10-10 tie in 1966 against Notre Dame. [Note: That is the last time a pair of top-10 teams has played at Spartan Stadium.]

These Sons of Duffy Daugherty are directed by its senior QB Connor Cook who has the ability and experience to “griddle” any defense.

The steady third year starter whose resume includes a Rose and Cotton bowl victory, targets wideout Aaron Burbridge, and a Prudential-sized (6-4, 250) tight end Josiah Price, while t- freshman tailback L.J. Scott, and his partner Madre London, are quality road graders.

All-America end Shillique Calhoun is the backbone of the ferocious D, with strong assists from his book-end Lawrence Thomas, backer Ricky Bullough, and tackle Joel Heath.

As the faithful are well aware there are some questions regarding a secondary, which is not the best recipe against Oregon.

In a game with major national implications, we think Mark Dantonio, one of the nation’s best, and most underrated, goes Duck hunting in Spartan Stadium.

No.14 LSU at No.25 Mississippi State (ESPN, 9:15 p.m.) In its opener the Tigers were expected to maul its season opening prey; McNeese State which would have served as a tasty hors d’oeuvre for this week’s tough SEC road contest.

But unfortunately after just a pair of series, Mother Nature stepped in, and the game was eventually called after a four hour weather delay.

It was a tough break for LSU sophomore QB Brandon Harris who is being handed the keys to the Baton Rouge Caddy, but for the Cowboys and Cowgirls of McNeese State it was a $500,000 payday without a check in the loss column.

The bottom line for the Sons of Billy Cannon hinges on the performance of Harris as LSU was a bottom feeding 114th throwing the ball in last year’s disappointing 5-loss season.

The new Baton-Rouge conductor will lean heavily on one of the nation’s best; sophomore tailback Leonard Fournette, who motors like an 18-wheeler zooming down the Mass Turnpike.

If the kid can stifle the jitters, wideouts Travin Duval, and Malachi Dupree are quality targets.

Newly hired d-coordinator Kevin Steele has, like Mr. Phelps, one mission; increase the number of sacks from last season’s miniscule total of 14.

And the strength of this eleven is anchored by backers Kendell Beckwith, Lamar Lewis, and safety Jalen Mills.

In Starkville, the cowbells welcoming its visitors will be clanging louder than a railroad crossing.

The Sons of Jackie Sherrill are directed by one of the nation’s most effective dual-threats in senior QB Dak Prescott, while tailbacks Brandon Holloway, and Ashton Shumpert are effective yardage churners.

The Starkville slayer also has a trio of field stretches; Gus Walley, Fred Ross and his tall-in-the-saddle (6-5,225) prime target; De’Runnya Wilson.

The D’s strength features a pair of linebackers Richie Brown, and Zach Jackson, with assists from tackle Chris Jones.

In a difficult game to get a handle we’ll give a slight edge to the Tigers of LSU.

No.19 Oklahoma at No.23 Tennessee (ESPN, 6 p.m.) After 16 years and an impeccable 168-44 record there is a feeling in Norman that this might be the last stand for Bob Stoops.

OU won its last league title in 2010, and is coming off an unacceptable five loss season.

In hopes of rectifying this “Boomer Sooner” malaise “Big Game” returned to his “air-raid” roots of Mike Leach hiring East Carolina o-coordinator Lincoln Riley.

QB Baker Mayfield, a TT transfer directs the Sons of Bud Wilkinson, with assists of from a pair of dynamic tailbacks Samaje Perine, and Joe Mixon, while wideout Sterling Sharp is a glue-fingered marvel.

The often undisciplined D, particularly in the secondary, is dotted with talent led by All-Americas backer Eric Striker, and corner Zack Sanchez, mixed with a solid dose of backers Dominique Alexander and Frank Shannon.

Expectations in Tennessee haven’t been this high since Al Gore appeared to have won (2000) the Presidency, as Coach Butch Jones has steadily molded the Volunteers into what may be a division challenging squad.

QB Josh Dobbs is the commander of the Sons of Johnny Majors, while the Gibraltar-hard tailback duo of Jalen Hurd, and Alvin Kamara charge like the bulls at Pamplona.

The rocket-armed signal caller has a host of field-stretchers featuring Pig Howard and Von Pearson.

The much improved Volunteers D is anchored by a pair of sack-master ends Curt Maggitt, and Derek Barnett, with a strong assist from backer Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

This will be the largest crowd Oklahoma has ever played before, and we think the Boys from Rocky Top capture its biggest win since its SEC/National Championship year of 1998 restoring the orange checkerboard brand back into national prominence.

Temple at Cincinnati (ESSN, 8 p.m.) The spotlight has found the Temple Owls.

But that’s what happens when a futility streak of 74 years (38-0-1 versus Penn State) that stretched back to the Administration of FDR (1941) comes to a crashing halt.

The D, which has more veterans than the bar at a VFW Post is led by one of the nation’s top tacklers; linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox, with assists from mates Trey Seals, and Kassan Messiah.

The length of the Buffs rebuilding mode makes the Big Dig seem like the annual sand castle contest on Revere Beach.

But make no mistake CU has offensive weapons.

The Sons of Byron “Whizzer” White are directed by quarterback Sefo Liufau an equal opportunity destroyer, who can slice a defense by either firing a dart, or scampering over huge chunks of real estate.

He has a touchdown make in receiver Nelson Spruce (12TDs) and a burning partner, Shay Fields.

There are three places to begin; but we’ll start in Lincoln, Nebraska and a quote from BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall on his team’s miraculous 33-28 victory over the Cornhuskers: “Its college football.”

Indeed it is!!

Some are calling it the: “Mangum Miracle at Memorial.”

The Cougars were down 31-27, and 76 yards from the end zone with less than 50 seconds on the clock and no timeouts.

Its Heisman candidate QB Taysom Hill was lost for the season, and its backup quarterback Tanner Mangum just returned 3 months earlier from a two year mission in Chile.

And when one adds the additional ingredient that Nebraska had no lost a home opener since the Reagan Administration (1985) a string 29 consecutive season opening games, it appeared the Cougars hopes were about as good as the presidential chances of Rick Perry.

On the Nebraska 42, and down to a single second, Mangum launched a 42-yard Hail Mary to his 6-foot-6 wideout Mitch Mathews who cradled the ball and falling into the Nebraska end zone with a pair of Huskers on his back for the game winning 33-28 touchdown stunning and silencing the Big Red zealots.

Wow!!! Not even Donald Trump could stage a production that good.

As Mendenhall understated: “It’s college football.”

It will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of BYU football.

The other stunner occurred in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia at a sold out Lincoln Financial Field the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Owls of Temple who hadn’t defeated Penn State since the FDR Administration in 1941 a losing streak that stretched to 38-0-1 rallied from a 10-0 deficit scoring the game’s final 27 points and shocking the Lions: 27-10.

This game was no fluke as the Owls sacked the highly regarded PSU QB Christian Hackenberg a total of 10 times. Yikes!! Not even the secret service protection is that bad!!

Great win for Temple, and how the “mighty” have fallen in Happy Valley.

Maybe they should stop producing and selling out of Joe Paterno beer because this was a sobering loss for the Nits.

Our next visit is to the bucolic campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois for the “smart bowl” played on grass by the way, (isn’t that refreshing) between the Wildcats and the Cardinal of Stanford.

In a smothering defensive display that would be the envy of Hillary Clinton defending her email accounts, the surprising Sons of Ron Burton bludgeoned the highly respected Cardinal: 16-6.

It was the fewest points scored by a Stanford team since W’s Administration in 2005.

And the last time Northwestern defeated a ranked team in its opener – 1995, it earned an invite to the Rose Bowl.

It was also the coming out party for the Purple Cats freshman QB Clayton Thorson, who ran for a 42-yard touchdown while playing mistake free football.

Great win for the Smart kids from the Midwest!!

“It was probably one of the best performances I’ve seen our “D” play, top to bottom, against a ranked team maybe in my time,” said Coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Up on Chestnut Hill the local eleven otherwise known as the Eagles of Boston College struggled to put away a feisty bunch of Maine Black Bears; 24-3.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 29,262 – a lot of them disguised as empty aluminum seats.

Enough of these “nobody cares” 1AA vs 1A matchups as BC gears up for next week’s game against mighty Howard!!

First of all, the interest in college football in this pro-sports town is in the Lincoln Chafee’s presidential numbers, so how do the powers at BC expect anyone to spend a gorgeous Labor Day weekend watching – no offense to a good Maine program – the Black Bears. Really!!!

The Eagles should open its season on Thursday Night and it should be against Mark Whipple’s (who should have been hired instead of Coach Spaz – but that’s another story) Minutemen of UMass, a natural rivalry.

Of course the Eagles, who don’t want to play UConn, would never play UMass – a local opponent that might actually defeat them.

Instead we get the football giants of Maine and Howard on consecutive home dates – and the BC Administration expects to generate interest.

Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please, enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And to back that up on a national scale – here are the combined scores of four of the cupcake gorging mismatches from around the country – 281-30!!

With two of the biggest offenders: ‘Ole Miss: 76-3 over UT Martin, and Cal 73-13 against Grambling State. Stop the madness!!!

In South Bend, the Irish put a licking on a woeful bunch of Texas Longhorns 38-3 as newly minted starter Malik Zaire had a nice coming out party passing for over 300 yards and 3-touchdowns on a 19-of-22 completion performance which was the second best in school history.

But it’s hard to gage just how good the Domers might be, based on the ineptitude of the UT’s offense.

Yours truly – even though we picked them in the blog – was happy to see the “Texter” Todd Graham and his Arizona State Sun Devils upset by a fiery bunch of Texas A&M Aggies 38-17, whose defense looked rejuvenated under the direction of its wizard John Chavis.

And no surprise as Alabama looked like, well Alabama, as Saban’s Boys led by All-America Derrick Henry toyed with Wisconsin 35-17 under the direction of QB Jake Coker.

Finally the legacy of Charlie Weis lives on as the Kansas Jayhawks lost to Division 1AA South Dakota State 41-38. KU was the last head coaching stop for “Front-butt” the most overrated coach of the last 20 years.

Nice road victory for the Crusaders of Holy Cross a 27-19 victor of Monmouth, led by their talented QB Peter Pujals.

That’s it from cyber-space. We’ll be up and running with our analysis of week 2 Wednesday night. Until then, Peace, and listen to the music. PKThere are three places to begin; but we’ll start in Lincoln, Nebraska and a quote from BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall on his team’s miraculous 33-28 victory over the Cornhuskers: “Its college football.”
Indeed it is!!
Some are calling it the: “Mangum Miracle at Memorial.”
The Cougars were down 31-27, and 76 yards from the end zone with less than 50 seconds on the clock and no timeouts.
Its Heisman candidate QB Taysom Hill was lost for the season, and its backup quarterback Tanner Mangum just returned 3 months earlier from a two year mission in Chile.
And when one adds the additional ingredient that Nebraska had no lost a home opener since the Reagan Administration (1985) a string 29 consecutive season opening games, it appeared the Cougars hopes were about as good as the presidential chances of Rick Perry.
On the Nebraska 42, and down to a single second, Mangum launched a 42-yard Hail Mary to his 6-foot-6 wideout Mitch Mathews who cradled the ball and falling into the Nebraska end zone with a pair of Huskers on his back for the game winning 33-28 touchdown stunning and silencing the Big Red zealots.
Wow!!! Not even Donald Trump could stage a production that good.
As Mendenhall understated: “It’s college football.”
It will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of BYU football.
The other stunner occurred in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia at a sold out Lincoln Financial Field the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Owls of Temple who hadn’t defeated Penn State since the FDR Administration in 1941 a losing streak that stretched to 38-0-1 rallied from a 10-0 deficit scoring the game’s final 27 points and shocking the Lions: 27-10.
This game was no fluke as the Owls sacked the highly regarded PSU QB Christian Hackenberg a total of 10 times. Yikes!! Not even the secret service protection is that bad!!
Great win for Temple, and how the “mighty” have fallen in Happy Valley.
Maybe they should stop producing and selling out of Joe Paterno beer because this was a sobering loss for the Nits.
Our next visit is to the bucolic campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois for the “smart bowl” played on grass by the way, (isn’t that refreshing) between the Wildcats and the Cardinal of Stanford.
In a smothering defensive display that would be the envy of Hillary Clinton defending her email accounts, the surprising Sons of Ron Burton bludgeoned the highly respected Cardinal: 16-6.
It was the fewest points scored by a Stanford team since W’s Administration in 2005.
And the last time Northwestern defeated a ranked team in its opener – 1995, it earned an invite to the Rose Bowl.
It was also the coming out party for the Purple Cats freshman QB Clayton Thorson, who ran for a 42-yard touchdown while playing mistake free football.
Great win for the Smart kids from the Midwest!!
“It was probably one of the best performances I’ve seen our “D” play, top to bottom, against a ranked team maybe in my time,” said Coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Up on Chestnut Hill the local eleven otherwise known as the Eagles of Boston College struggled to put away a feisty bunch of Maine Black Bears; 24-3.
The game was played before an announced crowd of 29,262 – a lot of them disguised as empty aluminum seats.
Enough of these “nobody cares” 1AA vs 1A matchups as BC gears up for next week’s game against mighty Howard!!
First of all, the interest in college football in this pro-sports town is in the Lincoln Chafee’s presidential numbers, so how do the powers at BC expect anyone to spend a gorgeous Labor Day weekend watching – no offense to a good Maine program – the Black Bears. Really!!!
The Eagles should open its season on Thursday Night and it should be against Mark Whipple’s (who should have been hired instead of Coach Spaz – but that’s another story) Minutemen of UMass, a natural rivalry.
Of course the Eagles, who don’t want to play UConn, would never play UMass – a local opponent that might actually defeat them.
Instead we get the football giants of Maine and Howard on consecutive home dates – and the BC Administration expects to generate interest.
Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please, enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And to back that up on a national scale – here are the combined scores of four of the cupcake gorging mismatches from around the country – 281-30!!
With two of the biggest offenders: ‘Ole Miss: 76-3 over UT Martin, and Cal 73-13 against Grambling State. Stop the madness!!!
In South Bend, the Irish put a licking on a woeful bunch of Texas Longhorns 38-3 as newly minted starter Malik Zaire had a nice coming out party passing for over 300 yards and 3-touchdowns on a 19-of-22 completion performance which was the second best in school history.
But it’s hard to gage just how good the Domers might be, based on the ineptitude of the UT’s offense.
Yours truly – even though we picked them in the blog – was happy to see the “Texter” Todd Graham and his Arizona State Sun Devils upset by a fiery bunch of Texas A&M Aggies 38-17, whose defense looked rejuvenated under the direction of its wizard John Chavis.
And no surprise as Alabama looked like, well Alabama, as Saban’s Boys led by All-America Derrick Henry toyed with Wisconsin 35-17 under the direction of QB Jake Coker.
Finally the legacy of Charlie Weis lives on as the Kansas Jayhawks lost to Division 1AA South Dakota State 41-38. KU was the last head coaching stop for “Front-butt” the most overrated coach of the last 20 years.
Nice road victory for the Crusaders of Holy Cross a 27-19 victor of Monmouth, led by their talented QB Peter Pujals.
That’s it from cyber-space. We’ll be up and running with our analysis of week 2 Wednesday night. Until then, Peace, and listen to the music. PK

There are three places to begin; but we’ll start in Lincoln, Nebraska and a quote from BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall on his team’s miraculous 33-28 victory over the Cornhuskers: “Its college football.”

Indeed it is!!

Some are calling it the: “Mangum Miracle at Memorial.”

The Cougars were down 31-27, and 76 yards from the end zone with less than 50 seconds on the clock and no timeouts.

Its Heisman candidate QB Taysom Hill was lost for the season, and its backup quarterback Tanner Mangum just returned 3 months earlier from a two year mission in Chile.

And when one adds the additional ingredient that Nebraska had no lost a home opener since the Reagan Administration (1985) a string 29 consecutive season opening games, it appeared the Cougars hopes were about as good as the presidential chances of Rick Perry.

On the Nebraska 42, and down to a single second, Mangum launched a 42-yard Hail Mary to his 6-foot-6 wideout Mitch Mathews who cradled the ball and falling into the Nebraska end zone with a pair of Huskers on his back for the game winning 33-28 touchdown stunning and silencing the Big Red zealots.

Wow!!! Not even Donald Trump could stage a production that good.

As Mendenhall understated: “It’s college football.”

It will go down as one of the most memorable in the history of BYU football.

The other stunner occurred in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia at a sold out Lincoln Financial Field the home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Owls of Temple who hadn’t defeated Penn State since the FDR Administration in 1941 a losing streak that stretched to 38-0-1 rallied from a 10-0 deficit scoring the game’s final 27 points and shocking the Lions: 27-10.

This game was no fluke as the Owls sacked the highly regarded PSU QB Christian Hackenberg a total of 10 times. Yikes!! Not even the secret service protection is that bad!!

Great win for Temple, and how the “mighty” have fallen in Happy Valley.

Maybe they should stop producing and selling out of Joe Paterno beer because this was a sobering loss for the Nits.

Our next visit is to the bucolic campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois for the “smart bowl” played on grass by the way, (isn’t that refreshing) between the Wildcats and the Cardinal of Stanford.

In a smothering defensive display that would be the envy of Hillary Clinton defending her email accounts, the surprising Sons of Ron Burton bludgeoned the highly respected Cardinal: 16-6.

It was the fewest points scored by a Stanford team since W’s Administration in 2005.

And the last time Northwestern defeated a ranked team in its opener – 1995, it earned an invite to the Rose Bowl.

It was also the coming out party for the Purple Cats freshman QB Clayton Thorson, who ran for a 42-yard touchdown while playing mistake free football.

Great win for the Smart kids from the Midwest!!

“It was probably one of the best performances I’ve seen our “D” play, top to bottom, against a ranked team maybe in my time,” said Coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Up on Chestnut Hill the local eleven otherwise known as the Eagles of Boston College struggled to put away a feisty bunch of Maine Black Bears; 24-3.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 29,262 – a lot of them disguised as empty aluminum seats.

Enough of these “nobody cares” 1AA vs 1A matchups as BC gears up for next week’s game against mighty Howard!!

First of all, the interest in college football in this pro-sports town is in the Lincoln Chafee’s presidential numbers, so how do the powers at BC expect anyone to spend a gorgeous Labor Day weekend watching – no offense to a good Maine program – the Black Bears. Really!!!

The Eagles should open its season on Thursday Night and it should be against Mark Whipple’s (who should have been hired instead of Coach Spaz – but that’s another story) Minutemen of UMass, a natural rivalry.

Of course the Eagles, who don’t want to play UConn, would never play UMass – a local opponent that might actually defeat them.

Instead we get the football giants of Maine and Howard on consecutive home dates – and the BC Administration expects to generate interest.

Are you kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please, enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And to back that up on a national scale – here are the combined scores of four of the cupcake gorging mismatches from around the country – 281-30!!

With two of the biggest offenders: ‘Ole Miss: 76-3 over UT Martin, and Cal 73-13 against Grambling State. Stop the madness!!!

In South Bend, the Irish put a licking on a woeful bunch of Texas Longhorns 38-3 as newly minted starter Malik Zaire had a nice coming out party passing for over 300 yards and 3-touchdowns on a 19-of-22 completion performance which was the second best in school history.

But it’s hard to gage just how good the Domers might be, based on the ineptitude of the UT’s offense.

Yours truly – even though we picked them in the blog – was happy to see the “Texter” Todd Graham and his Arizona State Sun Devils upset by a fiery bunch of Texas A&M Aggies 38-17, whose defense looked rejuvenated under the direction of its wizard John Chavis.

And no surprise as Alabama looked like, well Alabama, as Saban’s Boys led by All-America Derrick Henry toyed with Wisconsin 35-17 under the direction of QB Jake Coker.

Finally the legacy of Charlie Weis lives on as the Kansas Jayhawks lost to Division 1AA South Dakota State 41-38. KU was the last head coaching stop for “Front-butt” the most overrated coach of the last 20 years.

Nice road victory for the Crusaders of Holy Cross a 27-19 victor of Monmouth, led by their talented QB Peter Pujals.

That’s it from cyber-space. We’ll be up and running with our analysis of week 2 Wednesday night. Until then, Peace, and listen to the music. PK